Frequent Questions

What is a Systematic Name?

The Chemical Identification Data Standard, developed jointly by EPA and its state and tribal partners, requires four identifiers for each chemical. Two of those identifiers are names: Systematic Name and Registry Name. The Systematic Name typically is the scientific name that describes the chemical structure. The Systematic Name is often the preferred name for chemists. For those chemicals that are registered by the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS), the Systematic Name is the CAS name. For those chemical substances not registered by CAS, EPA creates the Systematic Name. These names should describe the chemical structure of the substance if possible.